Ben's Big Busy World: January 2014

What can be done in 365 days?

Happy Valentine's Day!

Lots of goals for this year, but topping the list is making a conscious decision to live a more enriched life. Not only mentally, but physically and emotionally as well. More family time, more unplugged friend time, more reading, crafting, cooking, exercising and more loving. Life is moving way too fast and if I can help slow down the moments together to make them more meaningful, I ~~think~~, no, I need to do so.

Ben's 1st "real" snow

Many of you know one of my ways of unplugging this year was to close my Facebook account. You can still keep up with #thisisbenrye here on this blog and through Instagram by following me (mommarye) for instant Ben pics.

Ben LOVES eating snow. Just have to make sure he doesn't get the yellow kind...

The infamous Gus.

And sweet Boy George

A quick wrap up of 2013 (more travel than I thought...)..

Birthday trip to ~~chilly~~ FREEZING Nebraska to see great friends and celebrate the birthday of a super special little gal.

Emma and Grace

Happy Birthday Sweet Emma!

Ben's surgery to "fix" his reflux, but it was not successful (after a long hospitalization). More to come in 2014, testing in the next few weeks and hoping he simply had delayed graft function.

Heading to the Aquarium after diagnostic testing :-(

Finally home after a long, long week

Greek Easter with my second family.

Playing in Sharon's pond

Hugs from Bunny Daphne

Ben and I made a trip to Myrtle for Mother's day, it was great - lots of sun and fun with cousin Joey and Aunt Bri and my dearest friend Harrison (some people call her Kelly) from college.

Ben with his Nan and Pop

Digging. Always, always digging.

Harrison!

Pool boy

Three, yes three, weddings in June.

The three of us had a nice long weekend in OC - where we found Ben's true love of the beach and ocean.

August brought another beach trip, this time back to Myrtle (off the cusp of a business trip to San Diego for me). Lots of family, laughs and unfortunately rain! My first time in MB with rain - hoping I can bring the sun again this year.

Checking out the surroundings at Lucy's farm

Climbing fences, a must in any little boy's life

Playing t-ball with Daddy-o

Helping in the garden (pre-patio)

Love how he loves the dirt.

Yup. We started skating this year too!

He still loves to swing.

Oh yeah, this happened too..

The fall was relatively quiet, Ben told me I was going to make him a dragon costume for Halloween, so of course I did, and it was really cute if I do say so myself.

My Dragon

This kid loves the sandbox and his trucks

And wrapping up the year, we had company from Kansas for Christmas. It was the first time we had seen Steve in about 3 years. Having everyone together (tightly, under one roof) was great. The little boys had a blast discovering the magic of Christmas and it was a joy to watch.